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2021 Skincare useup – did I complete my challenge and useup as much as I could that was in this post in February. The first photos are what I had in my stash. The second one is the empties of each category.

Cleansers

I have too many to finish this year. But first I wanted to try some new ones. The Deviant Cleaning Oil I sold on. I had previously tried samples and they did not work for me. The Cerave Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser and the Superdrug Me Hyaluronic Niacinamide Cleanser were a fail on my face and used up on my body. My favourite was the Function Of Beauty cleanser which worked best along with Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm during the summer months. Again, I finished a larger size of La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser, this one works well from me and I can use this around my eyes. Just not getting the bigger size, I prefer the smaller size.  Last one I used in 2021 was Ren Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Gel. And should finish this in the new year. Currently using up the larger Cerave Hydrating Cleanser on my body. Slightly stings my rosacea skin on my face.

These were all used up. Used in the am and pm. I would repurchase some but not others.

Toners

I have previously used four toners in a year, and have three left in my stash. These both work so well for me, the La Roche Posay especially when I am ill over the winter period. And the Elemis has worked when my skin in fine. And do you see the spray in the Elemis bottle. Once cleaned out, I will add to the La Roche Posay. Much easier for me. On the fence, if I will get these again. I am now trying essences instead.

I think I will only buy the La Roche Posay one, as that works for price for me. The Elemis is fine but expensive unless it is part of a skincare deal.

Facial Mist

My face likes a facial mist, I have dehydrated rosacea peri menopausal skin. So I often find myself during the day and night time, spraying my face. Liz Earle is a long term favourite, I love the scent. But this is no longer available and the brand changed the ingredients. La Roche Posay is also good all year round. The others are all new to try. I did not like the Avene, but was impressed with both Dr Jart+ and Caudalie. Zelens were a fail for me. One I sold on.

These three are all firm favourites. These are already been repurchased as my skin loved them all.

Morning Eye Cream

I am not sold on eye cream still. I have not found one that is amazing and sometimes think that the serums and moisturisers I have are enough. These are what I have left to use. The Inkey and Olay, I did not get on with and did not finish. During the summer, I had problems with hayfever, and my eyes are sore. So the Liz Earle was used as a hit and miss. I stopped using and will try again in the winter. Gave away the Olay, and threw away both the Inkey and Liz Earle, reacted on my eyes.

Vitamin C

Now vitamin C is also now problematic for me. Since starting Skin and Me, my skin is more sensitive than normal. And some vitamin c stings. So I want to use these up and then have a hard think if I want to include this ingredient in my routine. I sold on the Zelens, as I was not a fan of the oil, but these were all finished and fine. Will I repurchase. It depends, as some products like multi purpose serums and moisturisers have this ingredient. Time will tell.

Antioxidant

These are what I will testing in place of vitamin C. Q10 has worked well before. And these are what else I will be testing on my rosacea skin. These were all used up. Again, a few multi purpose serums, moisturisers even sun creams have antioxidants added to the formula. Time will tell if I repurchase.

On the fence if I will ever repurchase these again.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

I finished all and more of Hyaluronic Acid, I also found more moisturisers are putting more ingredients like By Terry Global Face Cream which is a one stop shop for me. I loved it, and will buy more when I have finished everything or when it is on offer. I only need one for my neck as this piles a lot of product. It is fine with Cerave and Vichy both will be used on the neck.

Used up a lot more than I had thought. I am finding dropper bottles problematic with my rheumatoid fingers. So I will have to mindful in the future. The ones I will repurchase are the AHC, Cerave, La Roche Posay, Vichy. These worked the best for my skin, price and packaging.

Moisturiser

This year of 2021, my skin was very sensitive and did not tolerate much. I finished two of the 30ml Elemis Marine Cream Ultra Rich but then had to move back to La Roche Posay Toleriane until my skin was better. In the summer, I switched with the Elemis Marine Cream SPF 30 when I was inside and when I would go out, the La Roche Posay Anthelios Age Correct SPF 50 was both sun protection, and moisturising enough for me. After this, I tried the Function of Beauty only in the morning. Then went back to the Elemis Marine Cream Ultra Rich. These are my morning moisture cream. I like a cream, and Elemis Marine Cream Ultra Rich is lovely but expensive. These 30ml get finished in six weeks. So not repurchasing that size anymore. All Elemis have a three year shelf life, so these larger size with be started in the autumn of 2021. Also the other moistures from ELF and Drunk Elephant have great ingredients.

With using skin and me, I can not have anything perfumed or full of other ingredients. I will be using these basic calming products that have all worked in the past on my skin. I have to be so careful. I had to sell the Elemis, as too perfumed for me, when my tretinoin prescription was increased from April. From then, very gentle moisturisers on my skin at night. I used the La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra Creame during the summer months, and then the Dr Jart going into the autumn and winter.

These were all the empties used in the am, pm. Used on face, neck, decollete and hands.  Some of these I will not buy again.

Exfoliation and Mask Products.

I am currently testing these products and I do like this. Time will tell how I will get on. But I can only use this type of product three times a week in the morning. Rosacea skin is so temperamental, you just have to listen to your skin. I used all these every other day, and my skin was fine. I like these pads, the only ones I will repurchase is the Elf, First Aid Beauty and Elemis if they are on offer, or in a set. Zelens and Dr Dennis Gross, were both fine, but too expensive to continue with.

Other things I have to test is Exfoliation Toners, and some peel products. I also have two of my favourite the NIOD and Elemis Papaya Peel. But during the summer and sore skin, I knew I could not use these, I sold everything except the NIOD and do not think I will ever buy anything like this again.

Twice a week, I use a peel and mask. These are what I have to use up. The Elemis Marine Mask is beautiful. I am looking forward to trying the others. But they are perfumed so will have to used in the morning. I gifted the Elemis Superfood Mask to my friend. The Elemis Moisture Mask was not for me, I tried a travel size first and sold the full size.

My empties

Other empties, I have are 7 months of Skin and Me prescription service. Then when my skin could not tolerate tretinoin I went onto use up retinol products.

Eyebright that I use every morning, SPF that I need to use more, Rose oil that I will not repurchase.

I have written a post around streamlining my skincare as this proves I have too many products and too many steps.